The NeedThe Need

This section This section will cover …will cover …

● Children needing Children needing homeshomes

● Consequences to Consequences to aging outaging out

● Motivation to adoptMotivation to adopt

The NumbersThe Numbers

There were over 3,500 children waiting to be adopted in 2002 in Ohio

National dataas of

September 2010

The The Consequences Consequences of Aging Outof Aging Out

● When foster children When foster children

turn turn 18 18 they emancipate they emancipate from the foster system and from the foster system and are no longer wards of the are no longer wards of the state if the have not found a state if the have not found a “forever family”. This “forever family”. This process is often referred to process is often referred to as “aging out”. as “aging out”.

2 ½ to 4 years after aging out…

25% of foster youth stated they had been homeless for at least one night

75% expressed the desire to go to college, only 2% earned a bachelors degree

84% are parents

55% did not get there high school diploma

25% of 16 and 17 year old offenders also re-offenders at 18 and 19.

51% are unemployed

30% don’t have health insurance

30% use government assistance

For those considering For those considering adoption…adoption…

…… make a list of the reasons make a list of the reasons whywhy

Here is a list of common Here is a list of common reasonsreasons

We cannot conceiveWe cannot conceive

We feel “called” to do this workWe feel “called” to do this work

We love children and just want to helpWe love children and just want to help

We want to give the gift someone gave to usWe want to give the gift someone gave to us

We don’t want other kids to go through what we We don’t want other kids to go through what we went throughwent through